Water ski with spout



Feb. 13, 1962 R. TIERNEY WATER SKI WITH SPOUT Filed Nov. 6, 1959 [00/5 97750/VEV V EN TOR.

3,020,558 Patented Feb. 13, 1962 United Sttes Patent Qfiiice 3,020,568WATER SKI WITH SPQUT Louis R. Tierney, 88 Summer St, Everett, Mass.Filed Nov. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 851,317 1 Claim. (Ci. 9-316) This inventionrelates to a novel water ski having a spout which produces a jet spoutor rooster tail of water behind the ski as the skier is pulled forwardlyin the water.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a ski of the characterindicated which produces an attentionattracting and speed indicatingtrailing jet or spout of water behind a water skier, simulating therooster tail produced by high speed motor boats, which rises above thewater level to greater heights as the speed of the skier in the water isincreased.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a. ski of thecharacter indicated above, wherein the spout is attached to or formed onthe rudder element of the ski, in trailing relation to the rudderelement, so that the spout produces no substantial additional resistanceor drag in the water.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a ski of thecharacter indicated above, a spout in the form of an accessory orattachment which is quickly and easily installable, without specialtools, in secure and rigid manner.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a ski of the present invention,showing a water jet or spout emerging therefrom;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section takenthrough FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on theline 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation, on the scale of FIG- URE 4, of theadapter; and,

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of FIGURE 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, the illustrated ski comprises agenerally conventional Water ski body 10, having an upturned and roundedforward end 12, and a squared rear end 14, a boot 16 being secured uponthe flat intermediate portion 18 of the ski body. A generallyconventional centered longitudinal rudder strip 20 is secured insuitable manner to the underside of the ski body 10, has a pointedforward end 22, and a rear end 2'4 which terminates at the rear end 14of the ski body. The foregoing structure is substantially conventionaland forms no part of the present invention, except in combinationtherewith.

In accordance with the present invention, the above ski form issupplemented by a water jet producing spout, generally designated 26,which comprises an L-shaped tubular form, made of suitable non-corrosivematerial, such as metal or plastic, and having a horizontal arm 28,having an open forward inlet end 30, and a right angular 2 V orperpendicular upstanding arm 32, having an open upper discharge end 34,the junction 36 between the arms 28 and 32 being preferably arcuate, soas to provide for free flow of water through the spout.

The diameter of the spout, as indicated in FIGURES 2 and 3, while notlimited thereto, is preferably as great as, and preferably notsubstantially greater than the cross-section of the ski rudder strip 20,and the length of the horizontal arm 28 is substantially less than thelength of the rudder strip 20, and is secured to the underside of therudder strip 20, by suitable means, such as screws 38, passeddiametrically through the arm 28 at spaced intervals therealong, andthreaded into the rudder strip, with the spout junction 36 conformablyengaged with the rear end '14 of the ski body and the rear end 24 of therudder strip 25}, and with the vertical arm 32 at right angles to andrising above the upper surface of the ski body.

When it is desired to select and predetermine the cross-section andvolumetric character of a Water jet 1 issuing from the open upper end 34of the vertical arm 32 of the spout 26, a selection of adapter nozzlesof diiferent characteristics is provided, which are exemplified by theadapter nozzle 40, for removable engagement in the open upper end of thevertical spout arm 32.

The adapter nozzle 40 comprises a hollow inverted cup-shaped body havinga cylindrical sidewall 42 having a free lower edge 44, and a top wall 46which is formed with a central jet defining opening 48. The adapternozzle is preferably shorter than the vertical arm 32 and is of adiameter to telescope closely into the upper end of the arm 32, with anupper portion thereof extending above the upper end of the arm 32, asclearly shown in FIG- URE 4. The adapter nozzle sidewall 42 hasdiametrically opposed bayonet slots 50 therein, opening through thelower edge 44 of the adapter, which are provided to removably andsecurably engage internal studs 52 mounted on the sidewall of thevertical spout arm 32 on a level below the upper end thereof. Thisarrangement enables quickly and easily changing adapter nozzles in thespout 26 to obtain different desired water jets.

As indicated in FIGURE 1, a vertical water jet J is jetted out of theadapter nozzle 40 or the upper end 34 of the spout 26, as the case maybe as the skier is drawn forwardly through the water, and that as thejet rises it is bent rearwardly, in the manner'of a high speed motorboat rooster tail, so as to provide spectator interest in watching waterskiers, and so as to provide a visual indication of the forward speed ofthe skiers.

While there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of theinvention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarilyconfined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of andin the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated asbeing within the scope of the invention as defined by the claim appendedthereto.

What is claimed is:

A water ski comprising a ski body having upper and lower surfaces and arear end, and an L-shaped tubular rooster tail producing spout fixed onthe ski body, said spout consisting of a horizontal arm located at thelower surface of the body and having a forwardly facing water open inletend and an upstanding arm at the rear end of the body havingan upwardlyfacing discharge 53 end, and an adapter jet nozzle engaged on thedischarge end of the spout having a reduced jet opening, said nozzlebeing an inverted cup-shape having a sidewall telescoped into thedischarge end and an upper end wall in which the jet opening is formed,and bayonet slot and stud means securing the nozzle in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,657,488 Shadden Ian. 31, 1928 1,952,110 Baker Mar. 27, 1934 2,382,150Hartman Aug. 14, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES Washington Sunday Star Newspaper,Comic Section, page 8, Jan. 5, 1941.

